The Black Dog Blog

Chateau Morrisette is among the oldest and largest wineries in Virginia. We also operate an award-winning restaurant with a 95% recommendation rate on OpenTable. With fresh vintages, flavors, and events at the winery, restaurant, vineyard, and festival field throughout the year, we will keep you abreast of all the great happenings and the people who make up Chateau Morrisette Winery and Restaurant in this blog and through our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest sites.

The Embers boast numerous albums and single releases that span decades and all the crazes continuing to exhibit top quality showmanship, musicianship and professionalism. Having been inducted into the South Carolina Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame and most recently the South Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame, The Embers are honored to carry the moniker of North Carolina’s Official Ambassadors of Music. This group has traveled the country and the world and have performed for every event imaginable from the highest dignitaries to the hottest back yard frat parties. The Embers were also honored to travel throughout South Korea to perform their Christmas special ‘Christmas with the Embers’ on American Military bases for America’s troops in December of 2007 and 2008. The Embers were awarded Military Coins of Excellence for their distinguished service.

This combination of experience and longevity has allowed THE FANTASTIC SHAKERS to possess a level of versatility few other groups can match. With five lead vocalists and up to three horns, they can perform almost any style of music from up-tempo dance and rock to the smooth easy listening for the more subdued occasions. The music is GREAT but what sets THE FANTASTIC SHAKERS apart is the personality of the group. From start to finish every performance becomes a PARTY! The fun starts at the first note and doesn’t stop until the last. A performance by THE FANTASTIC SHAKERS is not just a party, it is an EVENT!

The Black Dog Beach Music Festival takes place on August 13, 2016 at Chateau Morrisette Winery and Restaurant's Festival Field. Advance tickets are $20 and they sell for $30 at the gate. Admission includes all day wine tastings, a souvenir wine glass, entertainment and free parking. Well behaved pets on a leash and children of all ages are welcome at the event. Food, wine, beer and arts are all offered for sale. For more information, visit THEDOGS.COM

Natalie Soucie, host of Day Time Blue Ridge on WSLS 10 in Roanoke, Virginia visited Chateau Morrisette and spoke with our Events Director, Sally Truslow to learn all about The Black Dog Jazz Festival on July 9, 2016. Sally told her about the musical artists performing for the day, including saxophonist Grace Kelly, swing music by Wally West's Little Big Band, and the Mike Floyd Jazz Trio. Click here to view the 4 minute segment that ran on Wednesday, July 6th. VIEW VIDEO

The 2015 Petit Manseng actually has 10% Chardonel and 3% Viognier added. It comes in with 32 grams per liter of residual sugar and 13% alcohol. This was not here in time for our large focus article on Petit Manseng (April 2016), but as always, coverage is ongoing. The debut release for this brand, this is a nice first effort in a drier style. Only modestly concentrated, mingling a touch of grapefruit with peach, this is a tight and focused wine on first pour, but it does open and become more expressive with air. It also tails off a bit on the finish at that point. It always tastes great, though. This is a great style to use as a food wine with some cheeses, but it is tasty enough, light enough and fresh enough so that it will work better on its own in summer heat.